The story received more than 2,200 comments in the first three hours after it was published, making it the most commented-on article Monday morning. Reactions to the charges facing against Mr. Manfort and his longtime associate Rick Gates varied: Some lauded the move by the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, and encouraged him to push forward in his investigation; a few Trump supporters questioned the president’s judgment over hiring Mr. Manafort; and others saw the indictments as proof that the Trump campaign did not collude with the Russian government.

Here is a selection of comments, which have been edited and condensed for clarity.

‘It was an oversight and I am sure one that Mr. Trump now regrets.’

The only thing that President Trump is guilty of is not vetting Paul Manafort more closely before hiring him to join the Trump team as campaign manager. It was an oversight and I am sure one that Mr. Trump now regrets. To his credit, he fired Mr. Manafort once he learned he had received $12 million from Viktor Yanukovych, the former Ukrainian president, in undisclosed payments. President Trump had absolutely no involvement in the Russian collusion of our presidential campaign as this investigation will prove. He is innocent.

‘It is just the tip of the iceberg.’

Why are so many people commenting as if this is the final result of Mueller’s investigation? It is just the tip of the iceberg. These were the easy indictments, the dangling fruit. It is how major investigations get off the ground and lead to a new phase. Study Watergate. Paul Manafort worked for the Trump campaign for free. A man who spent his life earning unscrupulous millions and hiding it in offshore accounts thereby also avoiding taxation does nothing for free.

‘My day just got a whole lot brighter.’

Well, my day just got a whole lot brighter. I was expecting indictments of lower-level individuals first, leading up the food chain as people began to talk to save their own hides. Here’s hoping Mr. Mueller goes on to even bigger busts — no wonder Trump was in full Twitter meltdown/deflection mode this weekend. I don’t care how long this takes. I’m willing to be patient. It’s clear Mr. Mueller and his staff are not on any fishing expedition here; we need to let this probe play out in its own time — the republic may very well depend on it.

‘Hillary Clinton’s uranium deal should too continue.’

I am a full Trump supporter, and I love my country. However, if any unlawful acts are found, then I believe the government should bring forth charges to those involved. I also believe that the investigation of Hillary Clinton’s uranium deal should too continue; therefore sending a message that our government is unbiased when it comes to high-level politicians breaking the law.

‘This is a disgrace and reflects badly on them both.’

‘I don’t know what people are getting so giddy about.’

I don’t like the sitting president as much the next person. However, I don’t know what people are getting so giddy about. I missed the line of the article that informs us about smoking gun evidence that proves collusion or cooperation between Trump and Russia in tampering with the election. So Trump surrounds himself with bad people; news at eleven ...

‘If Trump pardons them, all the outrage will be extreme and explosive.’

I was wondering how Mueller would structure the indictments so Trump would be boxed in — starting with pre-campaign offenses is brilliant. If Trump pardons Manafort for the pre-campaign offenses Mueller will use the sure to follow campaign offenses of Flynn, Manafort, and what is sure to be a host of others.

Trump will have no choice but to pardon everyone for everything, or Mueller and his team will be able to flip those who know they are going to see jail time. Loyalty based on greed and corruption is brittle, it breaks easily when pressure is applied.

‘If treasonous behavior has occurred, it will be discovered in due time.’

This first indictment moves us as Americans to a greater appreciation of the patience we must have to allow Robert Mueller the time to do a thorough examination of the facts regarding collusion with Russia. Democracy is a clumsy business; the truth will come out if we have respect in the process. But, we must not rush to judgment. Allow deliberation and future indictments to shine light on those dark shadows in our land. If treasonous behavior has occurred, it will be discovered in due time.